What celestial body is depicted on the flag of Palau?

The celestial body depicted on the flag of Palau is the moon, specifically a golden full moon. It appears as a large yellow disk slightly off-center toward the hoist on a light-blue field.

Palau’s flag was adopted on January 1, 1981, when the country separated from the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The light-blue background represents the Pacific Ocean and Palau’s place within it. It also symbolizes the transition from foreign administration to self-government.

The full moon has special cultural importance in Palauan life. Traditionally, it was regarded as an especially favorable time for activities such as fishing, planting, harvesting, tree-felling, celebrations, and carving traditional canoes. The moon therefore represents more than a shape in the sky: it is associated with peace, love, tranquility, and a productive time for community life.

The design is sometimes confused with Japan’s flag because both feature a disk, or with Bangladesh’s flag because the disk is offset. The distinction is important: Palau’s disk represents the moon, not the sun. The flag’s designer, Blau J. Skebong, has also rejected claims that it was intended as a special tribute to Japan.